A twist-off crown closure with seal

ABSTRACT

A closure member for a container, particularly a bottle, has a top portion and a skirt portion connected by an inclined connecting zone whose height, measured in the direction of the axis of the closure member, is preferably equal to at least one twelfth of the diameter of the skirt portion. The extent of the inclined connecting zone permits sealing means to be accurately positioned within the closure member whereby the degree of sealing and the ease of removal of the closure can be controlled.

Aug. 6, 1974 3,523,624 8/1970 Curry........

[ A TWIST-OFF CROWN CLOSURE WITH SEAL [75] Inventor: Antoine Joseph Leenaards, primao, Examiner ceorge Hall Lausanne Swltzerland Attorney, Agent, or FirmWoodcock, Washburn, [73] Assignee: Societe Du Bouchon Couronne K & M ki i (Crown Cork Company France),

Essonne, France Mar. 31, 1972 ABSTRACT [22] Filed:

[2]] Appl. No.: 240,305

A closure member for a container, particularly a bottle, has a top portion and a skirt portion connected by an inclined connecting zone whose height, measured in the direction of the axis of the closure member, is preferably equal to at least one twelfth of the diameter of the skirt portion. The extent of the inclined connecting zone permits sealing means to be accurately positioned within the closure member whereby the dee closure 089 2 6 04 5 485 2 604 0 5 7 999 l W 666 2 mm 2 l a 5 a m m3 ty D ma .u 5 1 2 rnnu .mm ommm 4 2 nun" 2 av 3 C9 PHN 3 H 5 "NH" 1 M max 2 A. m Ir sav u 53 M-HHH m n M m 9 wn m w Mum g w It I! l n n m 1 1 3 .m 2 C t F m wn 5 C MSD U l .l 3 0 Z 6 3 5 rl rl gree of sealing and the ease of removal of th [51] Int. B65d 23/00, B65d 53/00 can be controlled.

[58] Field of Search........................... 215/39, 40, 43

32 Claims, 26 Drawing Figures [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,503,534 3/1970 Moller 215/39 minnows 6 14 SHEU 1 OF 5 A TWIST-OFF CROWN CLOSURE WITH SEAL This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 39,270, filed May 21, 1070.

The present invention relates to stoppers for closing containers, particularly bottles, and which comprise a substantially flat or slightly curved circular bottom, a substantially cylindrical or slightly flared lateral skirt and a separate sealing member.

These stoppers or closures can be screw stoppers or crown stoppers, although the invention more particularly relates to crown or closures stoppers for bottles whose necks have threaded collars, that is to say, crown stoppers which can be removed by hand by a rotary unscrewing movement.

In such stoppers, it is important that the sealing joint between the stopper and either the transverse end or top surface of the neck to be closed, or the side or lateral cylindrical surface of the neck, or both should be accurately located so that the friction does not exert an excessively high resistance to the unscrewing action.

The methods which are at present known for positioning the sealing member in a stopper have not resolved this problem in a completely satisfactory manner.

In one of these methods, some sealing material which in most cases is a thermosetting synthetic material, is placed in the center of the top of the stopper, and the stopper is rotated so that centrifugal force displaces said material towards the zone joining the top of the stopper to the skirt. The radius of this zone does not usually exceed 1.8 mm. The sealing joint which is formed in this way is poorly defined as it necessarily increases in thickness from the center of the top of the stopper towards the zone joining said top to the skirt.

According to the invention, there is provided a stopper for closing a container comprising a flat or slightly curved top, a substantially cylindrical or slightly flared lateral skirt portion and, extending between the top and the skirt portion, an inclined connecting zone. A side sealing member is situated within the connecting zone of the stopper but does not extend into the flat or slightly curved top.

The presence of the connecting zone makes it possible for a punch provided with a laterally open recess to abut the internal surface of the stopper, entirely outside a cylindrical zone coaxial with the stopper and having a diameter equal to'the external diameter of the neck of the bottle to be closed, disregarding the threads, rings or the like which project from said neck. Consequently, depending on the size of their connecting zone and the nature of the punch used to position their sealing member, the stoppers according to the invention can have a seal only at the side of the neck.

A stopper according to the invention may comprise a cap, for example a metal cap for a threaded collar, having a flexible sealing member of annular shape, which is pre-positioned within a wide curved portion connecting the skirt and the top of the cap, and which fits around the lateral face of the neck of the container. The seal is made by compressing the sealing member by deforming the connecting zone towards the external face of the neck of the container after the stopper is set in position. The wide curved connecting portion which permits the sealing joint to be made also constitutes a pre-deformation of the cap, facilitating deformation at right angles with the sealing joint.

In one embodiment, the annular sealing member is made by placing sealing material within the cap, followed by punch-shaping, which allows the internal diameter of the sealing member and its radial thickness to be precisely controlled.

The curved portion connecting the top of the stopper to the skirt portion is of a radius which is at least substantially equal to the height of the sealing member, measured along the axis of the stopper. This curved portion is suitably dimensioned so as to mate with the curved portion generally formed at the periphery of the upper sealing surface of the neck, such that the deformation caused of the connecting zone is simply a modification in the curvature of the curved portion of the cap.

Stoppers of the type intended to form a sealed closure by crimping on a collar, and particularly screw stoppers for containers with externally threaded necks such as bottles, jars and the like can also be formed in accordance with the invention.

Stoppers according to the invention may be of the type which is adapted to be fixed by crimping on to a container neck, wherein the skirt portion is provided with serrations and the sealing member is annular, is formed within the stopper by punching and has a face which fits around a lateral sealing surface of the neck, the contact region between the sealing member and the stopper being inclined over its entire width relative to the axis of the stopper. By virtue of the width of the connecting zone, the punching step makes it possible for the joint to be exactly positioned relative to the aperture to be closed and in consequence, to control the unscrewing force required and the degree of sealing.

The invention also proposes a method of fitting such a stopper which comprises crimping said stopper on to a container neck and deforming the connecting zone towards the external surface of the neck so as to compress the sealing member against the said surface of the neck, the deformation step being effected before, during or after the crimping operation.

The invention will now be particularly described with reference to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial section of a crown stopper according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an axial section of the stopper in position on the neck of a bottle to be closed, before crimping;

FIG. 3 is a similar view after crimping;

FIGS. 4 to 6 are similar to FIGS. 1 to 3 respectively but show another embodiment;

FIGS. 7 to 8 are diagrammatic views showing the formation of the sealing member of the alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6;

FIG. 9 is an axially sectional view of part of a similar stopper made in accordance with a conventional method;

FIG. 10 is a similar view to FIG. 8 and shows another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of a threaded neck;

FIG. 12 shows an elevational view of a cap according to the invention;

FIG. 13 shows a punch for shaping the sealing member according to the invention;

FIG. 14 shows a sectional view of part of the cap provided with its sealing member;

FIG. 15 shows the cap mounted on the neck, before hammering;

FIG. 16 shows a tool for carrying out the operation of hammering the sealing member;

FIG. 17 is an elevational view on a larger scale, part broken-away and part in section, showing the condition of the closure according to the invention after hammermg;

FIG. 18 shows the mouth of a container with an external collar having a single thread;

FIG. 19 shows a cap according to the present invention before an annular internal sealing member is provided.

FIG. 20 shows a punch serving to form the sealing member against the internal face of the cap;

FIG. 21 shows the cap being provided with the sealing member according to the invention;

FIG. 22 shows the cap provided with the sealing member according to the invention;

FIG. 23 shows the neck with the cap in the course of being crimped over a thread;

FIG. 24 shows a tool for applying the stopper in accordance with the method of the invention;

FIG. 25 shows on a larger scale the stopper after the tool shown in FIG. 22 has been used;

FIG. 26 shows an alternative form of the tool shown in FIG. 23. 1

FIGS. 1 to 3 show by way of example the application of the invention to a crown closure or stopper and more particularly to a crown closure or stopper for fitting on the neck of a container or bottle having a single helicoidal screw thread 11; D is the diameter of the external surface of the neck, disregarding the thread 11.

The crown stopper according to the invention has a horizontal circular, substantially flat or slightly curved top central 12, and a substantially cylindrical or slightly flared depending skirt 13, the free edge of which is provided with serrations 14. In the rest position as shown in FIG. 1, the serrations 14 are bent outwardly.

Between the bottom 12 and the skirt 13 is an inclined or curved connecting zone 15 of arcuate cross-section and of substantial axial height h, preferably greater than one twelfth of the diameter of the skirt 13.

When used in connection with the connecting zone, the word inclined" means extending both axially and radially.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the profile or cross-section of the connecting zone 15 in the transverse direction is substantially part-circular and has radius R. For a crown stopper having a skirt diameter of from to 40 mm, the radius R is preferably from 2 to 5 mm and the corresponding axial height h is preferably from one quarter to one half of the total axial height H of the stopper.

A premolded sealing member or ring 16 is fitted in the stopper and lies entirely outside a cylindrical zone 17 of diameter D, that is to say, the diameter of the free end of the neck 10, disregarding the thread 11. The sealing surface of the ring 16 is linear in cross-section.

Consequently, when the stopper is fitted on to a bottle, as shown in FIG. 2, the sealing member 16 having a sealing surface which is substantially linear in crosssection comes into contact only with the external surface of the neck 10; and, during crimping, it does not flow laterally, along the transverse face of the neck 10. Consequently, once crimped, as shown in FIG. 3, the

above described stopper only forms a lateral or side seal.

It will be noted from the FIGURES that an annular clearance 18 is provided between the cylindrical zone and the skirt 13 of the stopper, to accommodate the thread 11 of the neck 10. The size of this clearance will depend on the intended use of the stopper.

It will also have to be noticed that the joint or ring 16 is entirely located within the connecting zone 15.

The term sealing member refers only to the annular bead which is intended to seal the stopper once the stopper has been crimped on the neck of a bottle, and not to the film of sealing material which may cover at least part of the bottom 12 of the stopper.

In another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a crown stopper is particularly intended for a neck 30 having a helicoidal thread which is divided into a plurality of portions 31. Such a thread is generally thinner than a continuous thread 11 (FIG. 2).

In this embodiment, the sealing member 36 is disposed entirely within the above defined cylindrical zone 17.

Consequently, when the stopper is fitted in position as shown in FIG. 5, the sealing member or ring 36 only comes into contact with the transverse end face of the neck 30 and during the crimping step it does not flow axially along the cylindrical external surface of the neck 30. Consequently, once crimped, as shown in FIG. 6 this stopper only forms an end seal.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a method of forming such a sealing member 36 in a stopper.

This forming step is effected by means of a punch 20 which has an end contact face 21 bounded by a laterally open annular recess 22 extending between edges 22A and 228. A bevel 23 extends between this recess 22 and the lateral cylindrical surface 24 of the punch.

A suitable quantity of sealing material 25 is placed on the top 12 of the stopper, and is punched by means of the above described punch 20, as shown in FIG. 8.

The edge 22B of the recess 22 of the punch abuts the connecting zone 15 of the stopper at a position which lies on the surface of or within the above described cylindrical zone 17. It is this lateral abutment which ensures that the sealing material displaced by the punch is confined within the recess 22 of the punch and this is arranged to correspond to the desired location for the sealing member 36.

The purpose of this connecting zone 15 will be more clearly apparent by reference to FIG. 9 which shows a conventional stopper whose small connection zone 45 should be particularly noted. The sealing member 46 fitted to this stopper is made as above by means of a punch provided with a laterally open recess and necessarily extends beyond the cylindrical zones 17 since there is no abutment surface for the edge of the laterally open recess apart from the base of the skirt 43 of the stopper. When the stopper is crimped on the neck of a bottle, the portion 47 of the sealing member 46 which is'beyond the cylindrical zone 17 will flow axially along the cylindrical external surface of the neck, and a seal is produced both at the end and at the sides.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment in which the quantity of material in the sealing member is relatively small. In this embodiment, the connecting zone 15 successively comprises; a portion 15A which is concave towards the interior of the stopper and connects with the skirt [3;

a portion which is concave towards the exterior of the stopper, and a portion 15C which is concave towards the interior of the stopper and connects with the bottom 12 thereof.

This stopper can be used both for a lateral sealing joint 16 and an end sealing joint 36.

The invention is not limited solely to the embodiments described above. Thus, for example, the transverse profile of the sealing ring could be rounded.

Nor is the invention limited to crown stoppers alone, whether they be for bottles with a normal collar or for bottles with a threaded collar, but applies also to threaded stoppers, screw stoppers or stoppers which require crimping.

The number of serrations 14 is not important but is usually twenty one for a skirt diameter of about mm. However, in the case of crown stoppers which are intended to be crimped on to screw-collar bottles, it can with advantage be about twenty seven in order to facilitate removal of the stopper by hand.

FIG. 11 shows the neck of a bottle having a thread 1, an upper sealing surface 2', a lateral or side sealing surface 3' and a peripheral rounded portion 4 between the two sealing surfaces. The reference D denotes the external diameter of the upper sealing surface including the connecting radius, i.e., the diameter of the lateral or side sealing surface.

FIG. 12 shows a cap before it is applied to the bottle. The cap is made of metal which is generally an aluminium alloy but may be another metal such as tin plate. The thickness of the metal is from 15 to /100 mm. This cap has a connecting zone of relatively large radius 5 between the skirt .I and the top F. The radius is from 2 to 5 mm.

As can be seen from FIG. 12, the cap is knurled at 6' and has a thief-proofing strip 7'. These two members serve respectively to facilitate unscrewing and to ensure that the bottle is tamper-proof. The knurling 6 is located at a distance d from the top of the cap, which distance is close to the value of the connection zone radius 5' between the skirt and the top. Therefore, starting from the top of the cap, the knurling is at the beginning of the cylindrical portion of the skirt. The height h of the cap obviously depends on the size of the neck to be closed.

FIG. 13 shows a punch for forming the sealing member.

FIG. 14 shows a punch P for forming the sealing member in position in the cap. The sealing material, which is generally a thermosetting synthetic material (for example, a plastisol), is distributed in the cap almost entirely as a ring 8' whose mean diameter D is greater than the diameter D of the aperture to be closed. The sealing material which is not part of this ring forms a thin top layer 9 which is intended to prevent the metal from coming into contact with liquid in the bottle.

In FIG. 14, the punch which forms the sealing mem her is cylindrical and this can give rise to some difficulty as it enters the cap. It is possible to provide a punch which is slightly conical in order to facilitate engagement in the cap, without altering the position of the sealing member which remains a ring whose mean diameter is greater than the diameter D of the aperture to be closed. After punching the sealing member can be slightly expanded, but this expansion step must not displace the sealing member.

FIG. 15 shows the stopper with its sealing ring positioned prior to crimping on the aperture or opening to be closed. It will be noted that the sealing ring 8' is located on the side of the aperture to be closed, that is to say, in the vicinity of the lateral sealing surface 3'.

The shape of the punch shown in FIG. 13 makes it possible for the sealing ring to be precisely positioned relative to the aperture to be closed. Consequently, by controlling the position and the thickness of the sealing member, it is possible to regulate the degree of sealing provided by the stopper and the force required to unscrew the stopper. This is a fundamental departure from known types of stopper in which the lateral seal was produced by substantial deformation of the metal, and could not therefore be strictly controlled.

FIG. 16 shows a tool for fitting the cap, comprising a cylinder 13 in which slides a piston 10' of which the operating travel, against the action of a return spring 11, is limited by a stop 12.

FIG. 17 shows the fitted stopper. The connecting Zone 5 has been deformed by the rounded lip L of the internal face of the cylinder of the tool so as to compress the sealing ring 8 against the lateral sealing surface 3'. This deformation is limited by the stop 12' in the tool. It should be noted that only the connecting zone between the skirt and the top has been deformed. Immediately after or during compression of the sealing member, the threads are formed and the tamper-proof strip 7' is crimped. This operation is not described here as it is a known operation.

In known methods, where the lateral seal is produced by substantial deformation of the cap during the stoppering operation an increase in the height of the stopper is often observed. With the stopper described above, this elongation effect is considerably reduced since the pre-positioned sealing member no longer requires lateral deformation of the cap. For a given bottle, it is therefore necessary to provide a stopper of a height h which is greater than the height h which a stopper according to the former methods would require in order to attain the same stopper height after the stopper was fitted. This consideration is important, in particular as regards positioning of the tamper-proof strip.

As an example, if an aperture to be closed has a diameter D 25.25 mm (this is the diameter of the lateral sealing surface) and a cooperating collar C ending at 14.4 mm from the upper sealing surface, in the case of the stopper described above, the height h before the stopper is fitted should be about 17 mm, whereas with stoppers fitted by known methods, the required height h was approximately 15 mm, in order to allow the tamper-proof strip to be crimped below the co-operating collar,

Using 270 mg of sealing material in an aluminium cap as described above which is 24/100 mm in thickness, 17 mm in height and 28.5 mm in diameter, the seal remains intact until a force in excess of 12 kg is applied.

The above described embodiment therefore makes use of an exclusively lateral seal.

In fact, the sealing member is punched and prepositioned so that it lies wholly outside the aperture to be closed, i.e., the mean diameter of the sealing ring is greater than the external diameter of the upper sealing surface of the neck.

Between the skirt and the top, the cap has a connecting zone having a radius of, for example, from 2 to mm. When the stopper is fitted, the sealing member, which is pre-positioned at the side of the aperture to be closed, is compressed by simple deformation of the topskirt connecting zone.

In the above described embodiment, deformation is therefore effected over a skirt height which is equal to or less than the height of the rounded or curved connecting zone, that is to say, in ,a pre-deformed zone. This facilitates the deformation operation which is further assisted since the said zone is inclined to the axis of the cap.

In FIG. 18, the neck of a bottle has a cylindrical zone of diameter D (the external diameter of the free end of the neck), an upper sealing surface 1 a lateral sealing surface 4", a connecting radius 2" between the two sealing surfaces and a thread 5" having a thread start 3". In this embodiment, there is only one thread, but it should be noted that the invention also concerns necks having a number of threads.

FIG. 19 shows a stopper cap C according to the present invention, before the sealing member is formed. The metal is preferably tin plate having a thickness of from to 60/100 mm, which is inexpensive. However, other materials such as aluminium alloy, non-tin-plated iron or a metal-plastics complex could also be used.

The cap C has a flat or slightly curved top 8", a lateral depending skirt 9" of a diameter D1, a connecting zone 7 between the skirt and the top, and serrations 10 which are formed in the lateral skirt, and extend into the first part of the connecting zone 7". The zone 7" is defined by a circular arc whose radius is preferably greater than one twelfth of the diameter D1. For example, in a stopper whose diameter D1 is from to 40 mm, the connecting zone radius may be from 2 to 5 mm. This connecting radius can also be replaced by an inclined, non-arcuate connecting zone whose height H, measured in the direction of the axis of the stopper, and width L, measured perpendicular to said axis, fall within the same limits as the above connecting zone radius. In the particular case of a flat top, a cylindrical skirt and an arcuate connecting zone,-the dimensions H and L are identical and equal to the radius of the circular arc.

It should also be noted that the number of serrations 10" can vary. Generally a relatively high number, for example, 27, is selected, in order to make it easier to grip the stopper by hand when unscrewing it.

FIG. 20 shows a punch B which is used to form the sealing member on the internal surface of the cap C.

FIG. 21 shows the punch in position in the cap. Sealing material, which is generally a thermosetting synthetic material (a plastisol, for example), is disposed in the cap almost entirely as a ring 6" whose mean diameter D is greater than the diameter D of the aperture to be closed. The sealing material which is not located in said ring, forms a top layer which is intended to prevent the metal from contacting the liquid in the bottle.

The sealing material may be slightly expanded after punching, but this operation must not displace the sealing member, that is to say, the sealing member must remain in the form of a ring and in its defined position.

It should be pointed out that the term sealing member does not include the top layer of sealing material referred'to above.

Owing to the large size of the zone 7", and by reason also of the flared shape of the skirt which is characteristic of crown stoppers,-the two edges Al, A2 of the punch abut the internal surface of the cap at points where the said surface is inclined relative to the axis, thereby determining with precision the position of the lateral sealing member 6". This precision is achieved by dimensioning the connecting zone to delimit a re gion which can receive the lateral sealing ring 6", of the required height and thickness, and which fits around the lateral sealing surface of the neck.

FIG. 22 shows the stopper with its sealing member positioned on the aperture to be closed before the crimping operation. It will be noted that the sealing ring 6" is located on the side of the aperture to be closed, that is to say, in the vicinity of the lateral sealing surface 4". The shape of the punch shown in FIG. 20 allows the sealing member to be precisely positioned relative to the aperture, and this permits the unscrewing force and the degree of sealing to be regulated as desired.

FIG. 23 shows the stopper with its sealing member in position after having been crimped on to the aperture by a known method. It will be noted that the metal of the cap is wrapped around the aperture to be closed, bearing against the top 1", the connecting radius 2" and the thread start 3". The lateral compression of the joint resulting from the crimping operation is limited by the connection radius 2" and the thread start 3". This can be a disadvantage, particularly in the case of a fairly thick thread.

In that case, i.e., where the thread 5 is relatively thick, the portion of the cap between the connecting radius 2" and the thread start 3" may be deformed before, during or after the above described crimping step, so as to compress the sealing member at the side of the aperture to be closed.

FIG. 24 shows a tool for fitting the stopper, which is used to carry out the method according to the present invention. The tool comprises a plunger 12" which is mounted slidably in a sleeve 11" inside a bore of diameter D2 which flares downwardly, thus forming a cylindrical bore terminatedby a frustoconical portion. The lower face of the plunger has a circular recess of depth F and diameter D3.

This internal diameter D3 is less than the diameter D1 of the cap and greater than the diameter D of the aperture to be closed.

In the stoppering operation, and in accordance with a method known for crown stoppers, the plunger firstly bears lightly against the stopper so as to position it on the aperture without deforming it excessively, then the bottle causes it to return upwardly into the sleeve, so that it is crimped thereby. Finally the plunger is stopped by a device which is commonly called a stop, the effect of which is to limit the crimping action and to deform the stopper towards the side of the aperture to be closed by engagement with the recess.

FIG. 25 shows the stopper when fitted over the aperture. This figure shows the deformation of the metal between the rounded portion 2" and the thread start 3" which improves the lateral compression of the sealing member.

The tool shown in FIG. 24 is only an example of apparatus which may be used for carrying out the method of the invention. In the above embodiment, a portion of the stopper is deformed before, during or after crimping over the collar of the neck, to give it a diameter D3 which lies between the diameter D of the aperture to be stoppered and the diameter D1 of the cap, said portion lying between the thread start 3" and the radius 2" of the aperture.

In FIG. 24, the plunger 12" can be so arranged as to effect deformation of the diameter D3 before crimping, by suitable regulation of the spring force of the plunger. Likewise, the sleeve 11 can be replaced by a sleeve whose bore is cylindrical over its entire height. The sleeve may be made of elastic material.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 26, the external cylindrical face of the plunger 12" forms with the internal face of the sleeve an annular groove which comprises, from top to bottom, a cylindrical zone of an internal diameter D3, an enlarged cylindrical zone of an internal diameter D2, and a downwardly flared frustoconical zone. The stopper engages successively into the frustoconical zone and into the enlarged cylindrical zone in which the crimping action occurs, and then into the upper cylindrical zone in which the stopper is deformed radially to a diameter D3. Deformation is effected over a height F determined by the stop position of the plunger, indicated by a broken line.

In cross section, the connecting zone and the skirt may have a profile which is substantially different from that described above but which affords the annular sealing member a contact region which is inclined over its entire extent relative to the axis of the cap.

I claim: 1. A closure-container combination comprising: a container including a neck having an opening at the top thereof, said neck including a cylindrical side sealing surface beneath said top, a thread formation beneath said side sealing surface and an upper annular surface above said side sealing surface and around said opening including a portion which is flat in cross-section; and a twist-off crown closure including a shell having a top panel, a depending skirt having a serrated edge, and a connecting zone between said top panel and said depending skirt, and

a sealing ring located within said connecting zone of said shell so as to sealingly engage said side sealing surface without engaging said portion of said upper annular surface.

2. The closure-container combination of claim 1 wherein said sealing ring is molded and positioned so as to compress said sealing ring against said side sealing surface upon crimping said skirt under said thread formation.

3. The closure-container combination of claim 1 wherein said sealing ring is located entirely within said connecting zone.

4. The closure-container combination of claim 3 wherein said connecting zone is inclined over a substantial portion thereof.

5. The closure-container combination of claim 1 wherein said sealing ring does not extend radially inwardly of said cylindrical side sealing surface.

6. The closure-container combination of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of said connecting zone is crimped inwardly to further compress said sealing ring.

7. A twist-off closure blank comprising a shell having a horizontal top panel, an elongated and substantially vertical depending skirt adapted to engage a thread formation on the container to be closed, and a connecting zone therebetween which is substantially arcuate in cross-section and further comprising a premolded sealing ring located entirely within said connecting zone, said ring having a premolded sealing surface which is linear and substantially vertical in cross-section at the inside diameter of said ring so as to conform with a cylindrical side sealing surface ofa container to be closed and adapted to sealingly engage said side sealing surface when radially inwardly directed prcssure is applied to said closure.

8. The closure-container combination of claim 7 wherein the height and width of said connecting zone are equal to or greater than one-twelfth of the diameter of said skirt.

9. The closure-container combination of claim 7 wherein the height and width range from 2 to 5 mm. where said skirt diameter ranges from 20 to 40 mm.

10. The twist-off closure blank of claim 7 wherein said linear-sealing surface is substantially cylindrical.

11. The twist-off closure blank of claim 10 wherein said clsoure is of the crown type and wherein said depending skirt has a serrated edge adapted to be crimped under the thread formation of the container to be closed when a radially inwardly directed pressure is applied to said depending skirt of said closure.

12. The twist-off closure blank of claim 10 wherein said depending skirt is a substantially cylindrical and adapted to be rolled under the thread formation of the container to be closed when a radially inwardly directed pressure is applied to said depending skirt of said closure.

13. A closure-container combination comprising a container including a neck having an opening through the top thereof, said neck including a substantially cylindrical side sealing surface beneath said top, a thread formation beneath said side sealing surface, a rounded surface joining with the uppermost-portion of said side sealing surface and an upper annular surface above said side sealing surface joining with said rounded surface, said upper annular surface at said top including a portion which is substantially flat relative to said rounded surface; and

a twist-off closure including a shell having a top panel, a depending skirt and a connecting zone between said top panel and said depending skirt, and

a sealing ring located within said connecting zone of said shell so as to sealingly engage said side sealing surface without extending radially inwardly of said rounded surface so as to preclude engagement of said substantially flat portion of said upper annular surface by said sealing ring.

14. The closure-container combination of claim 13 wherein the lower edge of said skirt is serrated.

15. The closure-container combination of claim 14 wherein said sealing ring is molded and positioned so as to compress said sealing ring against said side sealing surface upon crimping said skirt under said thread formation.

16. The closure-container combination of claim 15 wherein said sealing ring is located entirely within said connecting zone, the height of said sealing ring being less than the height of said connecting zone.

17. The closure-container combination of claim 16 wherein said connecting zone is inclined over a substantial position thereof, said connecting zone having a height equal to at least one twelfth the diameter of said skirt.

18. A closure-container combination comprising a container including a neck having an opening through the top thereof, said neck including a substantially cylindrical side sealing surface beneath said stop, a thread formation beneath said side sealing surface and an upper annular surface above said side sealing surface around said opening; and

a twist-off closure including a shell having a top panel, a depending skirt and a connecting zone between said top panel and said depending skirt, and

a sealing ring located with said connecting zone of said shell so as to sealingly engage the side sealing surface without extending above the uppermost portion of said upper annular surface.

19. The closure-container combination of claim 18 wherein said twist-off closure further comprises a layer of sealing material under said top panel.

20. The closure-container combination of claim 18 wherein the lower edge of said skirt is serrated.

21. The closure-container combination of claim 20 wherein said sealing ring is molded and positioned so as to compress said sealing ring against said side sealing surface upon crimping said skirt under said thread formation.

22. The closure-container combination of claim 21 wherein said sealing ring is located entirely within said connecting zone, the height of said sealing ring being less than the height of said connecting zone.

23. The closure-container combination of claim 22 wherein said connecting zone is inclined over a substantial portion thereof, said connecting zone having a height equal to at least one twelfth the diameter of said skirt.

24. A deformable twist-off closure blank comprising a shell having a substantially flat central panel, an elongated depending skirt adapted to engage a thread formation on a container to be closed upon radially inward deformation of said skirt, and a substantially curved connecting zone therebetween further comprising a premolded sealing ring located within said connecting zone, said ring having a premolded sealing surface substantially linear in cross-section and adapted to engage a side sealing surface on the container to be closed, the radially innermost surface of said sealing ring being spaced radially outwardly of the center of curvature for said curved connecting zone.

25. The deformable twist-off closure blank of claim 24 wherein the lower edge of said skirt is serrated.

26. The deformable twist-off closure blank of claim 24 wherein said sealing ring is located entirely within said connecting zone, the height of said sealing ring being less than the height of said connecting zone.

27. A deformable twist-off closure blank comprising a shell having a substantially flat central panel covered with a thin layer of sealing material, an elongated depending skirt adapted to engage a thread formation of the container to be closed upon radial inward deformation of said skirt, and a substantially curved connecting zone therebetween and further comprising a premolded sealing ring located within said connecting zone, said ring having a premolded sealing surface which is substantially linear in cross-section, the portion of said ring extending closest to said central panel being spaced a substantial distance from a plane intersecting the extremity of said connecting zone nearest said substantially flat central panel.

28. The deformable twist-off closure blank of claim 27 wherein the lower edge of said skirt is serrated.

29. The deformable twist-off closure blank of claim 27 wherein said sealing ring is located entirely within said connecting zone, the height of said sealing ring being less than the height of said connecting zone.

30. A deformable twist-off closure blank comprising a shell having a substantially flat central panel, an elongated skirt adapted to engage a thread formation on a container to be closed upon deformation of said skirt, and a connecting zone therebetween which is substantially arcuate in cross-section and further comprising a premolded sealing ring located within said connecting zone, said ring having a premolded sealing surface which is substantially linear and adapted to engage a side sealing surface of the container to be closed, the portion of said ring extending closest to said central panel being spaced a substantial distance from the plane of said central panel.

31. The deformable twist-off closure blank of claim 30 wherein the lower edge of said skirt is serrated.

32. The deformable twist-off closure blank of claim 30 wherein said sealing ring is located entirely within said connecting zone, the height of said sealing ring being less than the height of said connecting zone. 

1. A closure-container combination comprising: a container including a neck having an opening at the top thereof, said neck including a cylindrical side sealing surface beneath said top, a thread formation beneath said side sealing surface and an upper annular surface above said side sealing surface and around said opening including a portion which is flat in cross-section; and a twist-off crown closure including a shell having a top panel, a depending skirt having a serrated edge, and a connecting zone between said top panel and said depending skirt, and a sealing ring located within said connecting zone of said shell so as to sealingly engage said side sealing surface without engaging said portion of said upper annular surface.
 2. The closure-container combination of claim 1 wherein said sealing ring is molded and positioned so as to compress said sealing ring against said side sealing surface upon crimping said skirt under said thread formation.
 3. The closure-container combination of claim 1 wherein said sealing ring is located entirely within said connecting zone.
 4. The closure-container combination of claim 3 wherein said connecting zone is inclined over a substantial portion thereof.
 5. The closure-container combination of claim 1 wherein said sealing ring does not extend radially inwardly of said cylindrical side sealing surface.
 6. The closure-container combination of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of said connecting zone is crimped inwardly to further compress said sealing ring.
 7. A twist-off closure blank comprising a shell having a horizontal top panel, an elongated and substantially vertical depending skirt adapted to engage a thread formation on the container to be closed, and a connecting zone therebetween which is substantially arcuate in cross-section and further comprising a premolded sealing ring located entirely within said connecting zone, said ring having a premolded sealing surface which is linear and substantially vertical in cross-section at the inside diameter of said ring so as to conform with a cyLindrical side sealing surface of a container to be closed and adapted to sealingly engage said side sealing surface when radially inwardly directed pressure is applied to said closure.
 8. The closure-container combination of claim 7 wherein the height and width of said connecting zone are equal to or greater than one-twelfth of the diameter of said skirt.
 9. The closure-container combination of claim 7 wherein the height and width range from 2 to 5 mm. where said skirt diameter ranges from 20 to 40 mm.
 10. The twist-off closure blank of claim 7 wherein said linear sealing surface is substantially cylindrical.
 11. The twist-off closure blank of claim 10 wherein said clsoure is of the crown type and wherein said depending skirt has a serrated edge adapted to be crimped under the thread formation of the container to be closed when a radially inwardly directed pressure is applied to said depending skirt of said closure.
 12. The twist-off closure blank of claim 10 wherein said depending skirt is a substantially cylindrical and adapted to be rolled under the thread formation of the container to be closed when a radially inwardly directed pressure is applied to said depending skirt of said closure.
 13. A closure-container combination comprising a container including a neck having an opening through the top thereof, said neck including a substantially cylindrical side sealing surface beneath said top, a thread formation beneath said side sealing surface, a rounded surface joining with the uppermost portion of said side sealing surface and an upper annular surface above said side sealing surface joining with said rounded surface, said upper annular surface at said top including a portion which is substantially flat relative to said rounded surface; and a twist-off closure including a shell having a top panel, a depending skirt and a connecting zone between said top panel and said depending skirt, and a sealing ring located within said connecting zone of said shell so as to sealingly engage said side sealing surface without extending radially inwardly of said rounded surface so as to preclude engagement of said substantially flat portion of said upper annular surface by said sealing ring.
 14. The closure-container combination of claim 13 wherein the lower edge of said skirt is serrated.
 15. The closure-container combination of claim 14 wherein said sealing ring is molded and positioned so as to compress said sealing ring against said side sealing surface upon crimping said skirt under said thread formation.
 16. The closure-container combination of claim 15 wherein said sealing ring is located entirely within said connecting zone, the height of said sealing ring being less than the height of said connecting zone.
 17. The closure-container combination of claim 16 wherein said connecting zone is inclined over a substantial position thereof, said connecting zone having a height equal to at least one twelfth the diameter of said skirt.
 18. A closure-container combination comprising a container including a neck having an opening through the top thereof, said neck including a substantially cylindrical side sealing surface beneath said stop, a thread formation beneath said side sealing surface and an upper annular surface above said side sealing surface around said opening; and a twist-off closure including a shell having a top panel, a depending skirt and a connecting zone between said top panel and said depending skirt, and a sealing ring located with said connecting zone of said shell so as to sealingly engage the side sealing surface without extending above the uppermost portion of said upper annular surface.
 19. The closure-container combination of claim 18 wherein said twist-off closure further comprises a layer of sealing material under said top panel.
 20. The closure-container combination of claim 18 wherein the lower edge of said skirt is serrated.
 21. The closure-container combInation of claim 20 wherein said sealing ring is molded and positioned so as to compress said sealing ring against said side sealing surface upon crimping said skirt under said thread formation.
 22. The closure-container combination of claim 21 wherein said sealing ring is located entirely within said connecting zone, the height of said sealing ring being less than the height of said connecting zone.
 23. The closure-container combination of claim 22 wherein said connecting zone is inclined over a substantial portion thereof, said connecting zone having a height equal to at least one twelfth the diameter of said skirt.
 24. A deformable twist-off closure blank comprising a shell having a substantially flat central panel, an elongated depending skirt adapted to engage a thread formation on a container to be closed upon radially inward deformation of said skirt, and a substantially curved connecting zone therebetween further comprising a premolded sealing ring located within said connecting zone, said ring having a premolded sealing surface substantially linear in cross-section and adapted to engage a side sealing surface on the container to be closed, the radially innermost surface of said sealing ring being spaced radially outwardly of the center of curvature for said curved connecting zone.
 25. The deformable twist-off closure blank of claim 24 wherein the lower edge of said skirt is serrated.
 26. The deformable twist-off closure blank of claim 24 wherein said sealing ring is located entirely within said connecting zone, the height of said sealing ring being less than the height of said connecting zone.
 27. A deformable twist-off closure blank comprising a shell having a substantially flat central panel covered with a thin layer of sealing material, an elongated depending skirt adapted to engage a thread formation of the container to be closed upon radial inward deformation of said skirt, and a substantially curved connecting zone therebetween and further comprising a premolded sealing ring located within said connecting zone, said ring having a premolded sealing surface which is substantially linear in cross-section, the portion of said ring extending closest to said central panel being spaced a substantial distance from a plane intersecting the extremity of said connecting zone nearest said substantially flat central panel.
 28. The deformable twist-off closure blank of claim 27 wherein the lower edge of said skirt is serrated.
 29. The deformable twist-off closure blank of claim 27 wherein said sealing ring is located entirely within said connecting zone, the height of said sealing ring being less than the height of said connecting zone.
 30. A deformable twist-off closure blank comprising a shell having a substantially flat central panel, an elongated skirt adapted to engage a thread formation on a container to be closed upon deformation of said skirt, and a connecting zone therebetween which is substantially arcuate in cross-section and further comprising a premolded sealing ring located within said connecting zone, said ring having a premolded sealing surface which is substantially linear and adapted to engage a side sealing surface of the container to be closed, the portion of said ring extending closest to said central panel being spaced a substantial distance from the plane of said central panel.
 31. The deformable twist-off closure blank of claim 30 wherein the lower edge of said skirt is serrated.
 32. The deformable twist-off closure blank of claim 30 wherein said sealing ring is located entirely within said connecting zone, the height of said sealing ring being less than the height of said connecting zone. 